Our View: Bad behavior for a safety trainer

Sunday

Jan 26, 2014 at 7:30 PM

THUMBS DOWN Somerset Fire Lt. Shawn Kerrigan for his irresponsible and illegal behavior that led to his license being revoked for more than a decade. Kerrigan, the Fire Department’s training officer since 2004, had several OUI arrests dating back to 1990 and as recently as 2010. As a result, he will not be eligible to reinstate his driver’s license until 2021.

THUMBS DOWN Somerset Fire Lt. Shawn Kerrigan for his irresponsible and illegal behavior that led to his license being revoked for more than a decade. Kerrigan, the Fire Department’s training officer since 2004, had several OUI arrests dating back to 1990 and as recently as 2010. As a result, he will not be eligible to reinstate his driver’s license until 2021. Kerrigan has the only position in the Fire Department that could be held without a driver’s license, officials said. Given his role involving training and safety, one would think Kerrigan would have exercised much better judgment and modeled much better behavior.

THUMBS UP to the Fall River Public Library’s South End branch, which will be moving into a new home in early February. The library branch will be closing its doors on South Main Street today as it moves to the new location at 58 Arch St. for a tentative move-in date on Feb. 3. Although the move will cost a bit more in rent, the lease for the old library location was not renewed. It’s a good move to make as well because the dark, outdated storefront was not handicapped accessible and did not have dedicated parking. The new facility should be a much better home.

THUMBS UP to Stop & Shop for the state and local approval of its innovative plan to convert food waste into electricity and heat for its Freetown distribution center. As a result of the final approval from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the supermarket chain will build a 12,000-square-foot “product recovery operation” at the center. Let’s hope that this operation proves to be a success and the concept spreads throughout the commonwealth and the nation to keep food waste out of landfills and save fossil fuels and money.

THUMBS UP to the Somerset School Committee’s approval of its wise decision to close the aging Wilbur Elementary School and establish new school district lines for enrollment at the three remaining elementary schools. The move is expected to save an estimated $555,000 and will affect about one-third of the district’s K-8 students. It’s been a long time since the enrollment lines were redrawn in Somerset, so the move that will help this town in the midst of a fiscal crisis save hundreds of thousands of dollars comes at a good time.

THUMBS UP to Swansea’s senior work-off program that offers town residents over 60 a chance to save up to $500 off their property tax bills. There are 25 slots available for the program — up from 20 last year — that allows seniors to work 62.5 hours at $8 per hour to work off their tax obligations. Swansea recently allocated an extra $2,500 in funding for the program. With many struggling to make ends meet, this is an excellent idea that ought to be expanded in Swansea, and should be considered in other municipalities for struggling taxpayers of all ages.